🎭 NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Sydney Gray

In this season of NEW@NAMT, we continue to highlight the winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with NAMT, Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation. These student songwriters had their original songs fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals during Winners Weekend in New York City.

🎶 In this episode, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff is joined by co-host Zeniba Now to welcome Sydney Gray, who wrote the winning song “Little Miss Heard But Not Seen.” In this powerful and emotional anthem, we meet Nava Lee, a girl who longs to be more than a shadow moving through life. Fighting against the doubts in her head, Nava’s story explores the universal struggle for visibility and acceptance.

Sydney shares how “Little Miss Heard But Not Seen” is part of a full musical she is developing, reflecting on themes of identity and self-expression. Co-host Zeniba Now, who served as Sydney’s program mentor, offers insight into the growth and evolution of Sydney’s song from early drafts to the final orchestrated performance at Winners Weekend.

If you’re passionate about storytelling through music and the future of musical theatre, this episode is a must-listen!

It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go on NEW@NAMT! 🎭

Follow NAMT: ⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠

More about NAMT: ⁠https://namt.org/⁠

More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠

For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠

Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠https://youtu.be/7ia5ebFAdrU?⁠

Watch “Little Miss Heard But Not Seen” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/ZfecFDyJLsk?

🎭 NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Owen Yeh-Lee

In this season of NEW@NAMT, we continue to highlight the winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with NAMT, Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation. These student songwriters had their original songs fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals during Winners Weekend in New York City.

🎶 In this episode, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff is joined by co-host Jaime Lozano to welcome Owen Yeh-Lee, who wrote the winning song “Spacetime.” Inspired by the Chinese folktale of the Moon Goddess Chang’e, Spacetime follows Hou Yi as he mourns his wife’s departure to the moon, grappling with loneliness, grief, and despair.

Owen shares the inspiration behind his mythologically rich and emotionally charged song, along with insights into his songwriting process, his experience working with Broadway performer Telly Leung, and the lessons he learned about collaboration in musical theatre during Winners Weekend.

Co-host Jaime Lozano, who served as Owen’s program mentor, reflects on Owen’s musical storytelling, cultural influences, and artistic growth throughout the challenge.

✨ If you’re passionate about new voices in musical theatre and the future of songwriting, this episode is a must-listen!

🎭 It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go on NEW@NAMT!

Follow NAMT: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/namtpics⁠⁠

Follow Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/⁠⁠

More about NAMT: ⁠⁠https://namt.org/⁠⁠

More about Musical Theatre Radio: ⁠⁠https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/⁠⁠

For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit ⁠⁠https://namt.org/challenge/⁠⁠

Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: ⁠⁠https://youtu.be/7ia5ebFAdrU?⁠⁠

Watch “Spacetime” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/ArlR_KtxlSc?

🎭 NEW@NAMT: The Next Wave of Musical Theatre Writers – Featuring Gwendellyn Doerfler

In this season of NEW@NAMT, we continue to showcase the winners of the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students, presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with NAMT, Concord Theatricals, Disney Theatrical Productions, and the NMPA S.O.N.G.S. Foundation. These student songwriters had their original songs fully orchestrated and performed live by Broadway professionals during Winners Weekend in New York City.

🎶 In this episode, host Jean-Paul Yovanoff is joined by co-host Anessa Marie Scolpini to welcome Gwendellyn Doerfler, who wrote the winning song “The Cost.” The song takes us on an emotional journey to 1970s Nashville, where dreams and doubts collide. Through this heartfelt country ballad, Gwendellyn explores the courage it takes to chase a dream, even when you’re unsure if the choice is right.

Gwendellyn shares how “The Cost” began as a personal school project and evolved into a universal anthem for dreamers everywhere. Co-host Anessa Marie Scolpini, who orchestrated the song, offers insight into the creative process and the emotional impact of hearing the song performed live by Desi Oakley at Winners Weekend.

If you’re passionate about storytelling through music and the future of musical theatre, this episode is a must-listen!

It’s time to lower the lights, raise the curtain, and LX1 Go on NEW@NAMT! 🎭

Follow NAMT: https://linktr.ee/namtpics

Follow Musical Theatre Radio: https://www.instagram.com/musicaltheatreradio/

More about NAMT: https://namt.org/

More about Musical Theatre Radio: https://www.musicaltheatreradio.com/

For more information on the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge, visit https://namt.org/challenge/

Watch Challenge Accepted! Featuring the Winning Songs: https://youtu.be/7ia5ebFAdrU?

Watch “The Cost” from the Winning Concert: https://youtu.be/vksgCRdnLIk?